GAME REPORT

Jeremy Chappell top-scored for Triumph Lyubertsy on an evening in which all 12 of their players would feature on the scoresheet

Triumph Lyubertsy's stuttering offence came to life just in time to secure win number four of the EuroChallenge Last 16 as they hung on to beat BK Ventspils 80-71.

Having taken control of the game in the third quarter, Triumph were in trouble in the fourth as they were held to nine points through the first nine minutes of the period, allowing Ventspils to get within two points on Jerai Grant's dunk with 63 seconds left.

But Evgeny Voronov replied with a three and Ventspils did not score again as Triumph scored seven in the space of 36 seconds to take victory.

There was nothing riding on the game but that did not affect its intensity as the teams slugged it out.

Triumph had taken charge with a 13-3 run early in the second half, leading 57-47 when Viktor Zaryazhko hit a three pointer midway through the third period.

The lead was still 10 going into the fourth quarter, but after Pavel Spiridonov made it 71-63 with 7:15 to go, Triumph went scoreless for more than four minutes.

Ventspils could only do so much to make that count as the scoring drought hit both teams, but with Maris Gulbis connecting on a couple of three-pointers, they were in touching distance as the game moved into the final two minutes.

Grant's dunk then made it a one possession game as the clock ticked down, but Voronov's three seemed to kill all of the visitors' momentum and Triumph finished it off with free throws from Kyle Landry and an exclamation mark in the form of Voronov's dunk six ticks from time.

COACH QUOTES

BC Triumph Head Coach Vasily Karasev"It was like a practice game for both teams. But nobody wanted to lose. I'm glad that we played good defence in the second half, we played with the wide rotation, and at the end we made a good run and we won."

BC Triumph Player Evgeny Voronov"I'm satisfied with the result. It was important for us to win at home, the guests played good in the first half of the game, they made good treys, and then we turned to the game and made the result. Now we'll prepare for the games against Ural. They are a strong team, with a good roster, and they start the quarter-final series at home."

BC Ventspils Head Coach Roberts Stelmahers"I'm not satisfied with the game of my team in in the EuroChallenge. Of course, tonight we wanted to play good basketball, we could play better, we wanted to win, we had enough motivation and the team tried to do its best.

BC Ventspils Player Sandis Valters"This game meant nothing for both teams, but we came to Lyubertsy to win, it was important for us. We tried to play as coach told us, and all was ok, but at the end we lost the concentration and we lost game. It happened with us in the game vs Dijon, and it was rather painful."